Bramhills in history

The earliest record of the name as a surname is in 1150 when Mathew de Bromale is mentioned in Early Medieval Records of East Cheshire". Our connection to the Carrington family, our DNA cousins, is likely to date from this time.

In 1221 when a Robert de Bramhal is mentioned in the Worcestershire Assize rolls during the reign of Henry III. Later that century, there is a Bishop Bramhall in Pontefract, Yorkshire.

In 1502 a John Bramhall is mayor of Pontefract. In the mid 1500s, a John Bramhall is bishop of Ripon; this John applied for a regranting of the Bramhall coat of arms, claiming descent "from the ancient family of Bramhall of Bramhall, county Cheshire".

Bishop John's grandson, also John Bramhall (1594-1663), achieved prominence as an Anglican theologian. See Wikipedia entry. He is remembered for the phrase "it is the last feather that breaks the horse's back". More on John Bramhall's theology.

In 1628, the grant of the Bramhall coat of arms by the Royal College of Heralds, is made to John Bramhall for the "Bramhalls of London and Cheshire". Also in the capital, a Thomas Brummell and Dorothy Sutton married at St. Olave's, Hart Street, on September 9, 1652.

Other prominent Bramhill variants:

:: George Bryan "Beau" Brummel – regency dandy who wowed Britain with his dress sense in the years 1797 to 1810 and who brought the world today's business suit.

:: George Wilshere, 1st Baron Bramwell (1808-1892) – English judge in the 1800s. George Bramwell's brother was the engineer Frederick Bramwell. See Wikipedia entry

:: Field Marshal Lord Edwin Bramall (b.1923) – "Dwin" served as Chief of the General Staff, the professional head of the British Army, between 1979 and 1982, and as Chief of the Defence Staff, professional head of the British Armed Forces, from 1982 to 1985. He was then Lord Lieutenant of Greater London from 1986 to 1998. Lord Edwin's older brother Ashley Bramall (1916-1999) was a Labour MP for Bexley.

:: John Bramhall (b.1956) – professional footballer who made more than 500 appearances for six clubs from 1976 to 1991. See Wikipedia entry

:: John Bramwell (b.1964) – singer songwriter and former TV presenter. See Wikipedia entry

E-mail any more historical Bramhills to me!